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170.115.251.13
WOW!!!
I had 2 of the Hammond 193L plugged (wires connected to a cord w/plug into AC outlet) into the outlet that my PLC is plugged into and it sounded nice....but on Friday I took to heart all of the suggestions of:
1) how great these are for digital and
2) how much better they are when connected as close as possible to the source.
Well I connected them to the power cord IEC ends (Furutech Cu) for both my Satellite box and my CDP....OMG!!!! The difference is pretty impressive. Way good!! I never was really able to enjoy the music on DirecTV (XM)with out my tube-pre ....the sound was just too edgy...(and I went out of my way to get cable from the dish to the box, Vibrapods, cryoed IEC adapter, VH PC and RCAs w/Furutech ends, etc....) Well, now it actually sounds pretty darn good w/out the pre and going straight into the amps. CDs are great. Much better than before ...you've all read the descriptions and they're right on the money.
(One caveat, In the distant past, I had not paid attention to which lead went to hot vs. neutral, so one could have been one way and visa versa...but Friday I connected the long leads to hot...)
FINALLY....MY QUESTION:
OK, PE has a backorder for the 193L....so I find the 193M is in stock....and I recall seeing the 193M listed a couple of times and in a couple of posts....but I'm not sure if the posters used 110V or 220V.... so my big question is: Will the 193M work as well (or better or not at all) with 110V lines? If noone knows, I'll just give it a whirl unless some of the experts would suggest that I do not....
Thanks to all (Alan, Al, cdc, et al) for this great Tweak and the refinements!!
Loving it
Doug
Follow Ups:
Just ask Wes and Jimmy!
1) to purchase one or two of the 193M and experiment with the placement within your system
When funds allow:
2) Purchase one of Alan Maher's PE (I believe PE is an acronym for Power Enhancer). I think they are about $75 and plug into the wall. For the money these things are pretty cool. I have one in my system now. When I have a chance I will write a review on this PE product.
3) Get Alan to sell you one of his Reference MKIV (I think this is the model number, I cannot remember which version I have) power cords. He may only be taking custom orders on these power cords, so you would have to check with him. This power cord kicks ass (at least in my system). In about a week or so I will have "all" (that is 9 total) of my power cords replaced with these. Although not cheap, they knock all my other power cords into the dirt! I have tried many high end power cords and currently own several VH Audio, Electraglide, and BMI power cords. His is better by a huge margin.
DISCLAIMER: I do not work for or with Alan Maher, nor am I financially associated with Alan. With Alan's assistance, my system has been transformed. And it keeps getting better, very very cool! I have been spending alot of money on my system the last 5-6 months, but damn, it has been worth it!
Chris
Hi Chris,
Well, I took the plunge....a pair of 193M's shall be arriving tomorrow!! I'd love to hear more about Alan's PE.
No kdding...Alan's ref MKIV cords are that good...wow. I have VH-Audio PCs throughout my system and like them a lot. I'll have to check my piggy-bank to see what's feasible, though. Is this cord a DIY or a finished product only? I have read of Alan's DIY power cords recently, but this name does not ring a bell with me (that's not saying much though).
Do you happen to know of any links to some more info on these babies?
Regards,
Doug
Hey Doug,
Cool. I am interested in knowing how they work out. Experiment with placement and report how they work out in your system. Be sure to allow 2 weeks before critical listening.
You are in luck. I just wrote a review that posted in the tweaks forum on Alan's PE.
And it was my bad, regarding Alan's power cords. They are called Studio Reference, not MKIV. I have five of these in my system and will have another four more in about a week and a half. All of my power cords are being replaced with these Studio Reference. For about 3 or so years I had four VH Audio Flavor 4s in my system. Still one in there now. The Flavor 4s I have are with Furutech FI-20 gold plugs. Took it up another notch when I used a very thin coat of Walker Audio SST on the conductors and then polished the blades.
Nothing against the Flavor 4 power cord. I have had many a shootout using that cord and it usually faired well against higher priced power cords. But Alan's Studio Reference power cord literally in my system is far, far superior. There is no contest on any of the gear I own that I have tried them on. Ummm, but so is the price tag...lol I believe the Studio Reference is a finished product only. No DIY. I have a couple of friends local to me that want to try one in their system. I can't seem to part with one to lend it to them. The b*tch is that it takes 10 days for the power cord to settle-in. Alan's Studio Reference compared to the Flavor 4 on any of my gear does the following:
* More speed and superior dynamics, transients to die for. Think silence to the loudest peak of a passage so fast it can be shocking.
* Vocal clarity and detail I have not experienced with any other power cord except the Audio Magic Clairvoyant.
Actually the Studio Reference sounds very similar to the Audio Magic Clairvoyant. To my ears in my system, the Audio Magic Clairvoyant is a bit more tilted to the neutral side, where as the Studio Reference tilts a smidgin to the warmer side. Anyway, contact Alan on your options. his email address is: audionutge@yahoo.com
Chris
I did the same thing this weekend with my CDP, just inserted the wires from the choke with the VH FL #3 wires into my Furutech IEC and pluged it in.
It was a very noticeable improvement over having it pluged into the spare outlet on my isolation transformer.I'm glad it was because when I had it pluged into the Isolation transformer, I wasn't as impressed as some others here.
Sure it was an improvement and a good one, but I felt it was overshadowed by Alan Maher AC Filter (PE).
Putting Alan's AC Filter on my DIY Power strip for my Preamp made much more of an improvement, easy over the 193L Choke at the isolation transformer for my Digital.I should say that the Preamp power strip is also on a seperate isolation transformer and separate line.
Now that I have moved the Choke to the Component at the ICE, it is performing much better.
Is it now better than Alan Maher's AC filter??
I'm not so sure, but the jury is still out on that, ask Alan?
When funds will allow I will get more of BOTH. Looking forward to trying both the choke and the Filters on the same line, until then, I don't really want to mess with it.
I should also add that I used to have Auricap tweaks in all my power strips and although very good. Not in the same league as the Alan Maher AC Filter!!
Hi benie,
Thanks for the info. I'm definately considering a PE. Glad to know it works really well for you....if I do happen to get one, I hope I'm as pleased with it as you are.
Very cool to know you dig the PE over the auricaps!
Regards,
Doug
I don't think I can rate one filter concept over the other. The PE and the choke are designed to work together. As for the choke, I wire them in one of three locations....my first choice is to mount the choke on top of the component and wire the choke across the iec socket on the inside. If this location does not work, then I suggest placing the choke in-line with the power cord....I have a couple of these designs and they work great. Follow those suggestions with a choke back at the PLC. If it is a transformer based unit place the choke on the secondary. If the unit is a parallel capacitor then put the choke at the wall. Now take the PE and plug it into the conditioner (isolation or parallel)...this combination is one of the best in the business right now, in my opinion. Adding a second and a third PE at the circuit will take it up another couple of notches.
Alan
So does the PE remove DC offset?
And does it work happily with 240V?
Yes to both of your questions.
Alan
nt
I use both 115v and 220v with both choke models.
Alan
Alan,
These things are great (for me) as I live less than 200-meters from the beginning of a radio/TV/cell transmitter/repeater array...and an electric substation 'bout 700-meters away. (beautiful area, as far as Philly can be beautiful, though I do seem to emit a slight greenish glow at night from the excessive EMI/RFI...on the plus side the glow makes finding my way to the bathroom at night very easy though...no nightlight needed... LOL).
I've tried lotsa tweaks to help mitigate the effects of the RFI/EMI (and greenish-glow) and the two biggest impacts/positive effects have been from the Z-Sleeve Extra Heavies and the pair of Hammond 193L's. Right now, bang-for-the-buck, I think these take the cake. (the Auricap H-to-N in the CDP had an acceptably pleasant effect too...)
Great to know that both types (M and L) have an affect on the 115v as well as the 220v. On my way to P.E. as I write.
Thank you for sharing and for taking the time to respond.
Regards,
Doug
Remove the Auricaps from the system and you'll be a lot happier with the choke.
Alan
Hi Alan,
No kidding. OK, I'll give it a whirl. They've (the auricaps) been in there soo long I had kinda forgotten 'bout 'em.
OK, hmmmmm, does Al's post earlier today (linked below) explain why this might be so? Specifically his 4th and 6th "paragraphs"?
In light of that, my PLC (lightly tweaked Monster 3500MkII) uses parallel AC caps as well... in general, are the caps and the chokes acting (for lack of a better descriptive term)"antagonistically" towards one another? If I'm reading things correctly, I am presuming that my PLC may be degrading the (potential) sound quality over using the chokes, correct? Whoa...that's some heavy news....though I always knew that the use of inline PLCs is essentially a trade-off of sorts.
Regardless, I'll still remove the Auricaps and write back to let you (all) know of my perceptions and opinions.
Just ordered some more chokes....one's on its way and the others are back-ordered.
Best regards and thanks for the tip!
Doug
For what its worth to those might be interested: Here's a list of the Monster 3500 MkII "tweaks" I've done/tried thus far: 1st, I found the Monster unit waaay cheap (less than $100) and it is fed from a VH-Audio cryoed 10-2 Romex dedicated line to a cryoed Furutech 20-Amp outlet, going into a VH-Audio Flavor 4 w/furu Cu terminations to the Monster PLC.
So:
1) I cut and inserted Furu IEC inlet 2) Replaced all outlets with Furu 15 amp Cu (not the newest ones),
3) Replaced all crimp connectors w/point-to-point soldered cryoed wires
4) Reinforced all solder traces w/cryoed 18 gauge VH-Audio hookup wire (removed all insulation then laid & soldered over traces where possible)
5) Bypassed filtration section for "high current" outlets w/VH-Audio star-quad wire,
6) Dampened / connected caps to the boards where possible or to each other w/small amounts of rope caulk,
7) Dampened interior chassis and borards w/rope caulk and PEs sonic barrier dampening foam,
8) Vibrapods and cones supporting the unit.
If I'm reading the correct passage, then yes...Al is in the ballpark. He appears to be one of the few that understand what this tweak is all about.
Single valued parallel cap designs (especially if you don't know what to use) can caused interaction problems. As I told you in the e-mail, the PE was designed to work in concert with the choke as part of a larger pacakage. The Washer adds balance ac into the picture and the Studio Ref power cord.
The Monster can be re-voiced and corrected using the PE. The PE will basically alter the ringing character of the Monster and control it, so it will synergize with the choke properly.
The next thing to do is remove the Vibrapods....I have been testing a new exotic wood hybrid foot that is really superb. Right now it's being made for personal use, but I'm trying to talk the designer into putting the foot on the market....exotic woods, especially this idea...are the future for high end audio.
Alan
Hi Alan,
OK. I removed the Auricaps from the CDP and sat down and listened...some of the "magic" had dissappeared and some midrange break-up and sibilance became evident as well. I recalled at that point that I had not placed caps across the secondaries of the JR SQ&D Iso Trans (linked below) I use to feed my CDP....so last night I placed the Auricaps there..."magic" has returned in spades! Tough to tell if it sounds better than it did w/them inside the CDP but I'm inclined to think that it does....but that may be more of a testament to my speakers (lightly tweaked B&W CDM9NTs...don't laugh...I'm in the process of building new towers) and CDP (lightly tweaked Denon DVD 2900)...both of which sound "OK" but really need assistance to do so. Interesting that both you and cdc heard "negative" effects when using both the Auricaps and chokes together (read in earlier posts by each of you if I recall correctly). Well, as time passes and my gear changes, so may my tastes and preferences, but for the moment the Auricaps shall remain.
I received your email but have not replied yet....I do wish to talk w/you about the PE...especiall since benie and cdc both mentioned it with praise.
Interesting....thus far I've only given passing thought to maple blocks (not so exotic...), but that has been lower on my tweak priority scale as I'm in the process of both building speakers and adding the 'Extended' package to my Bottlehead Foreplay III linestage. I guess I should give a whirl to a few diff types of wood footers/blocks and see if I can hear a difference with my gear. I recalled how much the pods impressed me (for the $$ especially) so if the direction is towards exotic woods, it may very well be worth my time and effort to learn a bit more.
Thank you once again for taking the time to share your knowledge with us!
Regards,
Doug
- http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=tweaks&n=43988&highlight=iso+trans+quick+dirty&r=&session= (Open in New Window)
193L is 5H, 193M is 10H. Either will work fine for 110v service.
Monolith,
Thank you. I also just found a post by Alan (Audionutge@yahoo.com)where what he says is essentially the same.
Have you (or anyone else) tried the 193M yet?
In your opinion, is there a performance increase (or decrease) that may justify the extra $$ to get one of these over the 193L?
Regardless, I'm psyched....this choke-tweak-thing is very neat.
Doug
It's addictive. I own 2 M's and 4 L's. I've not discovered the point of diminishing returns yet. Still too soon to call. The M's just allow you to have more H's with a single plugin. Some have reported that the L's need a week to settle and the M's need 2-3 weeks to settle. Regardless, you'll notice an immediate change when first plugged in.
SWEETNESS!!!
Alright....PE here I come! Thank you, great to hear that's the case.
Just got home and fired-up the sys and, boy'o'boy, what a nice change relative to last week. These things applied as they are now are probably as neat as the Z-Sleeve Extra Heavies I have decorating my PCs.. but sooooo much less expensive.
I'm gonna give a whirl to a pair of M's: one on each PC IEC that feed my Class D amps....and if I'm really feelin' my oats I may prder a 3rd to place in the PC IEC that feeds my PLC.
Great News!
Thanks again,
Doug
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